Apparatus for conveying plastic material



M. R. JQHNSON APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING PLASTIC MATERIAL Nov. 13 1923.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17. 1922 INVENTOR. MORE/.5 R. JOHNSON BY mNW. 13,,w2a, a Mmm M. R. JOHNSUN APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING PLA'STICMATERIAL Filed Oct. 17. 1922 2 Sheets-She; 2

IN V EN TOR. MORE/5 R. Joan/sow I A TTORNEY.

'and an air cylinder 12,

HORRIS JOHNSON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

.KPPARATUS FOR CONVEYING PLASTIC IWIAT EBIAL.

' Application filed October 17,

' To all whomz't may concern-.-

Be it known that I, Mourns R. J OIINSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson, State of Alabama,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forConveying Plastic Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus in.- oluding a mixing box in whichis placed the clay or any other material to be conveyed to some remotepoint either above or below the mixing box, an air cylinder and thenecessary piping for charging and discharging the material.

An embodiment of the invention is illus trated ,in the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. l. is a side elevation of the entire apparatus,and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

The apparatus includes a mixing box 10 the mixing box preferably beingset at a position higher than the air cylinder on an operating platforml-l. The mixing box and air cylinder are connected by. supply pipe 16 inwhich is placed a valve 18. To the bottom of the air cylinder 12 isconnected a discharge pipe 20 to which is secured check valve 22. Aroundthe check valve a by-pass 24 is connected which is equipped with a valve26 and this by pass is connected around the valves 28 and 30 as shown inFig. 2. A drain pipe 21 controlled by a valve 23 is connected to thepipe 20 to permit the apparatus to be flushed out when necessary. At thetop the air cylinder is connected by a pipe 32 to a high pressure airline 34 which is controlled by a valve 36. Extending through the top 88er the air cylinder, but running nearly to its bottom -10, is a steampipe 42 provided with a valve 44. A return line l6 is connected to thetop of the air cylinder and communicates through pipes 18 and 50 to aWaste barrel 52 and the mixing box 10 respectively.

In operation the valve 16 is closed while the clay is mixed to a plasticcondition in mixing box 10. After proper mixing, the valve 18 is openedallowing material to flow by gravity into the air cylinder 12. A valve54 in the pipe 48 is opened by turning the hand wheel 56 thus allowingmaterial to flow through pipes l6 and 48 into the barrel 52 after theair cylinder is filled. When the 8 in the pipe line or other materialvalves 28 and to flow back into the 1922. Serial No. 595310.

operator sees material flowing into the barrel he closes valves 18 and 5.2.

The discharge line 20 is installed to the remote point here the materialis required, such as to the top of a blast furnace where lire-clay isfrequentlyncedcd for repairing the brick lining or other parts of thefurnace. A suitable hose 58 and nozzle 60 may be connected to the pipe20 to direct the material discharged. Valve 36 in the air line which isconnected to a compressed air-supply line is now opened and the rterialis thus forced out through the 13 pe line 20. The check valve 22 betweenthe two gate valves 28 and 30 prevents the material. from flowing backthrough the pipe 20 into the air cylinder when theair pressure is takenoff for refilling the air cylinder. The two gale valves 28 and 30 oneach side of the check valve are normally left open.

llf this check valve 22 gets out of order the 30 on each side of it areclosed and by the by-pass 24 is used until the check valve is repaired.In the event that the ma terial packs too tight in the air cylinder asmall amount of stezun is discharged at the bottom of the cylinder byopening valve 44: in the steam line 45;, this agitates the materialkeeping it hot at all times since it is advantageous to use hotfire-clay for rep ing blast furnace or other heavy brick 1- ings. Torelease this steam or air 2. normally closed valve 51 in line 50 isopened thus allowing air or fire-clay mist, caused by the rush of airwhen pressure is released,

mixing box.

My apparatus is an improvement over piston pumps heretofore used for thepin pose, and also possesses advantages which will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art over conveyors used for handling concre e in buildingconstruction.

Though I have described with great particularity the details of theembodiment of the invention illustrated it is not to be construed thatIain restricted to the use of such a structure. Various modificationsmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from theinvention as defined in the appended claims. 4

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class descr a box in which plastic material tobe vcyed is mixed and stored, a cylinder municat-ing with said box,means for .i trolling the passage'of said plastic mate FAG applyingfluid-pressure to the material in said piping connectedto said cylinderto convey the material to a. remote discharge point and means toindicate to the operator that the cylinder has been charged to fullcapacity.

a box in h'ic the'material to be conveye is mixed and stored, a cylindercommunicating with said box, means for controllin the passa f materialbetween the box an the cylin er, means for applying fluid pressure tothe material in said cylinder to .discharge it therefrom, means fordelivering a jet of steam to the lower part of the cylinder to heat theplasticmaterial to prevent it from congeali ng, and piping connected tosaid cylinder to convey the material to a remote discharge point?- 3. Inan apparatus of the class described, a storage box for plastic material,an air cylinder located below said box so that the material can flow bygravity thereto, a pipe connecting said storage box and said cylinder, avalve for controlling communication between said box and said 0 lindermeans for exerting fluid pressure irectly on the material in thecylinder to discharge it at a remote point, discharge piping forconveyingthe material, a ipe for dischargsteam within the cylinder toheat the charge and keep it plastic, and a valve controlled pipeconnected to the top of the cylinder and communicating with saidstorcylinder to discharge it therefrom,

age bo x adapted to serve as a vent for discharging the material ladensteam mist to the 'stor box after the cylinder has dischar d itscontents.

4. n an apparatus of the class described, a box for holding a supply ofplastic material, a cylinder connected thereto, means c0ntrollingcommunication between the box 2. Inan' ap aratus of theclass describedand the cylinder, means for supplying compressed air to the cylinder todischarge the material, a discharge pipe connected to said cylinder andhaving a check valve to prevent back flow of the material, a. by-pressaround said check valve and valves for controlling the flow of materialthrough said by-pass so that if the check valve becomes clogged theopening of said last named valves will permit the interrupted dischargeof material.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a box for holding a supply ofplastic material, a cylinder connected thereto, means controllingcommunication between the box and the cylinder, means for supplyingcompressed air to the cylinder to discharge the material, a dischargepipe connected to said cylinder adapted to discharge the material at aremote point and a valve controlled outlet pipe connected to the top ofthe cylinder adapted to permit the material to overflow momentarily'toindicate to the operator that the cylinder has been charged to fullcapacity from the storage box.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

MORRIS R. JOHNSON.

